Das honoured with Distinguished Legislator award

Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi

BJP firebrand MLA of Jamshedpur (East) Raghuwar Das conferred with Distinguished Legislator award for year 2012 during a ceremony at State Assembly on Thursday. He received memento and cash Rs 51,000 from Governor Syed Ahmed.

“This is a big honour for me. Honour comes with more responsibility. It has inspired me to devote my life to serve people of my constituency and Jharkhand,” Das told the media after receiving award.

A special committee of the assembly headed by Speaker CP Singh adjudged him for this award among 82 MLAs of the assembly, the decision to which was announced on Wednesday. Along with Das, assembly’s Under Secretary Vipin Bihari, Chief Superintendent Jageshwar Singh and Driver Ravi Oraon were also awarded for their commendable service. 

Das has been representing the Jamshedpur (East) constituency the past three terms as BJP nominee. The thing that probably helped him to retain this seat despite political and electoral odds is that he remained attached to people and raised their problems on all possible forum. Known for his best organizing capability central BJP leadership appointed him state president whenever it felt the need to energize the state unit. Serving state BJP as president twice he managed electoral success of the party in assembly as well as parliamentary elections.

He served as Urban Development Minister in the Arjun Munda led BJP government and Deputy Chief Minister in the Shibu Soren led JMM-BJP-AJSU-JD (U) coalition government in 2010. During 2010 assembly election he was instrumental behind forging a post-poll alliance with the JMM.

58-years-old Das started his political career as member of Chhatra Sangharsh Wahini of Jay Prakash Narayan and took part in JP movement. He served jail terms for taking part in the JP movement. He, later on, joined the BJP.  His one time political mentor PN Singh had once told The Pioneer that Das to him appeared a keen student public oriented politics. “He was very disciplined and energetic and he always displayed capability to rise swiftly in politics,” Singh had told The Pioneer.

Many consider him a blunt and man of rough political edge sans sophistication. Das smiles in agreement over the charges. It is probably because of his theological belief in the teaching of saint Kabir that makes him a man of anti-establishment. “I belong to this sect. Saheb (Kabir) was himself blunt in admitting truth,” he said.

When rest in the state politics would fight shy in demanding radical amendments in the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act he would demand it from public platform. When few will whisper about a non-tribal chief minister in Jharkhand he can be heard loud and clear. He would keep fighting for a balanced Domicile Policy for Jharkhand when radical tribal groups are demanding stringent provisions. “You can’t develop the State within narrow ethnic and regional framework. We need to break it. Jharkhand belongs to all, tribal and non-tribal alike,” he said.

Continuously fighting against Tata Steel establishment for the settlement of unauthorized colonies in Jamshedpur he has been demanding better civic facilities for the people.